As part of efforts toward advancing Information and Technology (IT) development in Nigeria, Anambra and Lagos states have agreed on a partnership that will see to the strengthening of their respective IT ecosystems.

This collaborative effort, which stemmed from bilateral meetings with the IT ecosystem members during the Reverse Trade Mission in the United States of America, is geared towards addressing emerging challenges, fostering innovation and enhancing the overall cyber security infrastructure.

This resonates with the Federal Government’s call, through the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, at the recently concluded meeting of the Nigeria National Council of ICT Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, for the digitalisation of MDAs operations.

According to the minister, there was a need for immediate provision of ICT infrastructure that would aid data sharing among government agencies, which, in turn, would not only aid pro-activeness in the business of governance, but would also block fraudulent activities, help improve Nigeria’s economy and set government priorities right at all times.

In a statement, yesterday, from Anambra ICT agency, the objectives and key highlights of the Anambra/Lagos partnership include cyber security collaboration, protection of IT assets, cyber protection measures and expansion of IT service platforms.

Both parties will implement new methods of cyber security to fortify IT infrastructure, as well as formulate strategies to comprehend and counter the evolving threat landscape in cyberspace.

Also, both states will also explore the introduction of advanced cyber protection measures for safeguarding critical IT assets, familiarisation with cutting-edge tools to mitigate and reduce cyber crime risks, and understanding new tools to enrich IT service platforms, including cloud solutions like AWS.

There is also the issue of aligning with digitisation and customer service agenda to enhance service delivery and developing initiatives for rapid onboarding of new skills in the IT sector, as well as up-scaling the skill system to meet the evolving demands of the IT landscape. Both parties will equally seek joint efforts to bolster the pool of skilled professionals in the IT sector.

Lagos State Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Tunbosun Alake, expressed optimism about the collaboration, stating: “This partnership signifies a crucial step in fortifying our technological capabilities. By combining forces with Anambra State, we aim to create a resilient IT infrastructure that not only addresses current challenges, but also anticipates and adapts to future advancements.”